It took five rounds, and some heroics by their goalie, but the Saskatoon Blades came away 3-2 shootout winners against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Josh Paterson had the shootout winner, spoiling projected first overall draft pick Nolan Patrick’s trip to SaskTel Centre.
The Blades started the game with back to back goals. Braylon Shmyr (25) opened the scoring in the first while Caleb Fantillo (4) chipped in in the second.
Saskatoon was able to hold off the potent Brandon offence until the third, when the Wheat Kings scored twice to tie things up and force overtime.
Three-on-three OT solved nothing, setting up a shootout. Josh Paterson’s 5th round goal was followed up by a Logan Flodell save on the Wheat Kings’ Ty Lewis.
Flodell added 32 saves in the game as the Blades picked up a fourth straight victory.
The Blades are back on the ice Sunday, Jan. 22 against Swift Current.